“Black men, in particular, get caught in circumstances they didn’t create but have to deal with. That’s Simon.” — The Rev. Henry Masters, on the biblical character Simon of Cyrene.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Pastor puts on musical about Simon of Cyrene
DALLAS (UM News) — The Rev. Henry Masters has had a longstanding interest in Black church history, and he’s lived a lot of it, too, as pastor to prominent Black United Methodist congregations in Dallas and Los Angeles. At age 76, he’s officially retired — but still busy. Masters’ latest project is a musical about Simon of Cyrene, the African man compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
New England Conference
Church gives $8,000 for Ukraine relief
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Russian invasion of Ukraine and plight of a church member’s Ukrainian family prompted Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church to donate $8,000 for relief and refugee aid in Ukraine. The money was divided between the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the Kyiv School of Economics, where Harvard-Epworth member Bogdan Savych studied before coming to the U.S. The school has been engaged in relief efforts.
Read story (PDF)
UM News: United Methodists pass plate for Ukraine
Texas Conference
Houston church home to childcare center
HOUSTON — Trinity United Methodist Church is one of Houston’s oldest churches, and it’s had close ties to education, producing numerous schoolteachers and even a college president. A new child care center at Trinity, part of the Texas Conference’s We Love All God’s Children initiative, will have the church even more education focused. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
Upper New York Conference
From Bible study to pulpit
WARNERVILLE, N.Y. — Teresa Howard had a childhood dream of becoming a pastor, but she had never pursued it. A friend’s invitation to a women’s Bible study brought her to Warnerville United Methodist Church. Conversations with the Rev. Maryellen Moore, the church’s pastor, inspired her to pursue her call, and she will begin studying to become a licensed local pastor in the fall. Moore shares Teresa’s story.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Disrupting anxiety through spiritual practices
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Everyone encounters anxiety, but for many, anxiety is not a fleeting feeling. On the latest episode of Rethink Church’s Compass Podcast, the Rev. Jason Cusick, who has experience in chaplaincy and counseling ministries, provides a practical and pastoral approach to navigating anxiety.
Listen to podcast
South Carolina Conference
Providing end-of-life space for the homeless
ROCK HILL, S.C. — For those who are homeless, the end of life can be a time of uncertainty and discomfort. With this in mind, one group of United Methodists has stepped up to offer a place where people can receive both hospice care and the love of Christ. Jessica Brodie reports on Mercy House. (UM News is sharing this story again because of a link issue in the April 6 Digest.)
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
MARCHA, Western Jurisdiction
Hispanic caucus urges bishop be reinstated
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. — MARCHA, The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic/Latino caucus, has written an open letter urging the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño be lifted while a complaint process in which she is named continues toward resolution. In an earlier letter, Western Jurisdiction leaders tried to address MARCHA’s concerns and explained why the complaint process is confidential.
Read MARCHA letter (PDF)
Read Western Jurisdiction letter (PDF)
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Small Church, Big God
3 Holy Week ideas for small churches
LEAWOOD, Kan. — Teresa J. Stewart has a message for small congregations as they prepare for Holy Week: “It’s not all on you.” A United Methodist teacher and writer with a passion for small-church ministry, Stewart offers three ideas based in Scripture for a meaningful Holy Week.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Ask The UMC: Why do we observe Passion/Palm Sunday?
Stress, burnout afflicting pastors
EVENTS
Monday, May 2-Friday, May 13
Online course: Safe Spaces for Vulnerable Adult Ministries
NEWS AND FEATURES
Pastor puts on musical about Simon of Cyrene
DALLAS (UM News) — The Rev. Henry Masters has had a longstanding interest in Black church history, and he’s lived a lot of it, too, as pastor to prominent Black United Methodist congregations in Dallas and Los Angeles. At age 76, he’s officially retired — but still busy. Masters’ latest project is a musical about Simon of Cyrene, the African man compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
New England Conference
Church gives $8,000 for Ukraine relief
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Russian invasion of Ukraine and plight of a church member’s Ukrainian family prompted Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church to donate $8,000 for relief and refugee aid in Ukraine. The money was divided between the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the Kyiv School of Economics, where Harvard-Epworth member Bogdan Savych studied before coming to the U.S. The school has been engaged in relief efforts.
Read story (PDF)
UM News: United Methodists pass plate for Ukraine
Texas Conference
Houston church home to childcare center
HOUSTON — Trinity United Methodist Church is one of Houston’s oldest churches, and it’s had close ties to education, producing numerous schoolteachers and even a college president. A new child care center at Trinity, part of the Texas Conference’s We Love All God’s Children initiative, will have the church even more education focused. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
Upper New York Conference
From Bible study to pulpit
WARNERVILLE, N.Y. — Teresa Howard had a childhood dream of becoming a pastor, but she had never pursued it. A friend’s invitation to a women’s Bible study brought her to Warnerville United Methodist Church. Conversations with the Rev. Maryellen Moore, the church’s pastor, inspired her to pursue her call, and she will begin studying to become a licensed local pastor in the fall. Moore shares Teresa’s story.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Disrupting anxiety through spiritual practices
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Everyone encounters anxiety, but for many, anxiety is not a fleeting feeling. On the latest episode of Rethink Church’s Compass Podcast, the Rev. Jason Cusick, who has experience in chaplaincy and counseling ministries, provides a practical and pastoral approach to navigating anxiety.
Listen to podcast
South Carolina Conference
Providing end-of-life space for the homeless
ROCK HILL, S.C. — For those who are homeless, the end of life can be a time of uncertainty and discomfort. With this in mind, one group of United Methodists has stepped up to offer a place where people can receive both hospice care and the love of Christ. Jessica Brodie reports on Mercy House. (UM News is sharing this story again because of a link issue in the April 6 Digest.)
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
MARCHA, Western Jurisdiction
Hispanic caucus urges bishop be reinstated
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. — MARCHA, The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic/Latino caucus, has written an open letter urging the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño be lifted while a complaint process in which she is named continues toward resolution. In an earlier letter, Western Jurisdiction leaders tried to address MARCHA’s concerns and explained why the complaint process is confidential.
Read MARCHA letter (PDF)
Read Western Jurisdiction letter (PDF)
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Small Church, Big God
3 Holy Week ideas for small churches
LEAWOOD, Kan. — Teresa J. Stewart has a message for small congregations as they prepare for Holy Week: “It’s not all on you.” A United Methodist teacher and writer with a passion for small-church ministry, Stewart offers three ideas based in Scripture for a meaningful Holy Week.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Ask The UMC: Why do we observe Passion/Palm Sunday?
Stress, burnout afflicting pastors
EVENTS
Monday, May 2-Friday, May 13
Online course: Safe Spaces for Vulnerable Adult Ministries
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